Purpose

The intent of the school health program is to provide health counseling, emergency care, education, screening, referral, and follow-up, as well as to maintain accurate records through program planning, implementation, student contact, and community interaction.

The primary purpose of the North Lamar Independent School District health program is to promote, maintain, and improve student, staff, and community health.

The program shall not serve as a substitute for health care which parents should provide for their children but as an addition to this care.

Philosophy

The faculty members of the school health program support the philosophy of the North Lamar Independent School District.  In accordance with this philosophy, we believe each student has inalienable rights, value, dignity, and responsibility. Each student is accepted without judgment. 

Health is recognized as the highest state of physical, psychological, and emotional well-being.  We believe that all students have the right to achieve this state.

School nursing is acknowledged as being a helping profession.  School nurses are advocates of and serve as liaisons between the student, school, community, and home.  They provide a support service apart from the primary educational mission of the school but necessary to the proper functioning of the complete system.

The school health program is a vehicle in advancing student, staff, and community health and welfare.  The program provides assistance in discovering barriers which may be hindrances to student learning.

Goals

1. To detect any physical condition which impedes learning or threatens optimum health.
2. To counsel students, their parents, and school personnel relative to the appraisal findings and to refer specific health problems to the proper specialist or agency.
3. To assist and encourage the remediation of defects.
4. To follow-up referrals to see that students receive the help they need.
5. To augment health instruction which guides students toward reaching full capacity as individuals who make responsible decisions about personal, family, and community health.
6. To provide and obtain emergency care for any member of the school community who becomes sick or injured.
7. To assist in the prevention and control of communicable diseases.
8. To advocate and help 0provide an environment conducive to the promotion and maintenance of health.
9. To provide a health advocate for children with the school.
10. To achieve acceptable levels of compliance with federal, state, and local health regulations.
11. To maintain and utilize current health data.